Baby Doll

By April Drury

Love is all there is, and all there ever was. It is a stuffed hot air balloon hanging from the ceiling. Light blue with a fuzzy little basket collecting dust. It serves as proof that my father loves me. He won it at the fair playing a shooting game and I am proud. It is the physical representation to me that he is real. He is my father who can shoot like they would in the old west. He comes to visit in the summer, or we go there. The year drags on in what feels like an endless northern Michigan winter, waiting for that beautiful jewel of a summer.

Love is an airport terminal, waiting anxiously to board a flight and enjoying all the hustle and bustle. Seeing my future pass before my eyes, I wait with excitement. Soon I will smell the bay, ice cream and eucalyptus trees wafting through the air and dad, waiting with arms spread wide. Lights whizzing past, and sprinkled way up in the hills, not like home. My heart explodes with excitement, he is holding my hand and saying he loves me! I am completely safe and fulfilled his “baby doll”.

Love is an abundance of food! We can eat anytime and drink as much milk as we want to all summer. The sky is red a night, not dark like the country and I note that its not as easy to sleep. I miss the crickets and the damp summer air. He comes home at about three and gives me a huge hug every day! Then we stand by while he unwinds with his ceremonial beers. We wait excitedly for even more attention will now be lavished upon my brother and I for having done nothing!

Love is comforting your brother as you fly home unable to fully process that you have just seen your father completely break down sobbing in the airport while saying goodbye. Now you will dutifully go back to mother and pretend the whole summer was a drag to ensure no feelings are hurt. Remember all the different experiences and look forward to the next visit only 9 months away.